Lys guitars were made in LaPatrie, Quebec. The Lys guitars were built by Canadian luthier Norman Butcher, who also made the Kamouraska classical guitar. In the last part of 1980 fire ruined Butcher's shop and he was financially too weak to rebuild. Hence he sold everything to Robert Godin, who rebaptized the Lys to Seagull and the Kamouraska to LaPatrie.

Some argue the Lys acoustics are on a par with early vintage Martins.